Curaçao · Curaçao · Wall · Reef
Playa Kalki
Sand-beach entry onto a reef that slopes past 30 m
Photo: Charles Hoffman · CC BY-SA 2.0
A sandy beach entry at Curaçao's western point, known to divers as Alice in Wonderland for the mushroom-shaped coral formations on its reef. The bottom starts at about 5 metres and descends gradually past 30, so one site covers both a shallow shelf for new divers and a wall profile for those who want depth.
Also known as Alice in Wonderland.
Where it is and how deep
12.3756° N, 69.1578° WPublished position for this site.
The dive
Entry is off the sand at Playa Kalki, which makes it one of the most convenient shore dives on the island — no rock scramble, no long carry over ironshore. The reef begins in about 5 metres of water and descends gradually, so you set the depth to the dive you want rather than the other way round; past 30 metres the slope simply keeps going.
The formations that gave the site its second name, Alice in Wonderland, are the mushroom-shaped coral heads along the reef. Schooling reef fish and parrotfish are the constant company, turtles come through on the shallower shelf, moray eels sit back in the coral, and an eagle ray passes over the deeper sand from time to time.
Part of the reef here is a working restoration project: Reef Renewal Foundation Curaçao collects coral fragments, grows them in underwater nurseries and outplants them back onto degraded sections of reef. Boat traffic runs along this coast, so an inflated surface marker buoy is mandatory for shore divers, and it is worth deciding the turn depth before you get in.
Marine life and season
- Sea turtles
- Eagle rays
- Reef fish swarms
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Curaçao: Diving runs all year; October to February is the rainy season, and May to November brings warmer water and fewer crowds.
Know before you go
- An inflated surface marker buoy is mandatory when shore diving here — recreational and commercial boats work this coast.
- The slope carries on past 30 m with no natural stopping point, so fix a turn depth before entering rather than following the reef down.
Photos from Playa Kalki
Laika ac from USA · CC BY-SA 2.0
LASZLO ILYES from Cleveland, Ohio, USA · CC BY 2.0
Charles Hoffman from New York, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0
amanderson2 · CC BY 2.0
Dive videos
Scuba Diving at Alice in Wonderland - Playa Kalki, Westpunt: Curaçao's #1 Shore Diving Site · Dive Curaçao on YouTube
Scuba Diving in Curacao. Playa Kalki - Alice in Wonderland [4K] · Ritarazzi on YouTube
Questions divers ask
Why is Playa Kalki called Alice in Wonderland?+
The name comes from the mushroom-shaped coral formations on the reef. Both names refer to the same site on Curaçao's western point.
Is Playa Kalki good for beginners?+
Yes. It is a sandy beach entry and the reef starts at about 5 metres, so the site suits all certification levels — new divers work the shallow shelf while the slope past 30 metres is left to advanced divers.
Sources
- Alice in Wonderland / Playa Kalki Dive Site — Dive Curaçao (divecuracao.info)
- Playa Kalki — Wikipedia
- Dive Sites (Go West Diving) — Go West Diving
Photo credits
- View down the cliffside at Playa Kalki, with sun loungers on the sand and clear turquoise water beyond by Charles Hoffman, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Branching elkhorn coral underwater at Playa Kalki by Laika ac from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Sharknose goby perched on star coral on the Playa Kalki reef by LASZLO ILYES from Cleveland, Ohio, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Close-up texture of coral exposed above the low tide line at Playa Kalki by Charles Hoffman from New York, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- A Chichi statue on the sand, ringed by lobed star coral heads and brain coral on the Playa Kalki reef by amanderson2, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr
In The Logbook
- The best shore dives in the worldShore diving · 8 min read
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